{décor inspiration | two lovely things : pink & carerra}

. . . and it was just about this time, last year, there was a dressing room enveloped in carerra marble and accented with pretty bits of pink, here and there, and today it's a powder room, in the very same perfect combination, both of which also happen to be two very favourite things . . .

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{tuesday musings & hello}

. . . and it has been a topsy-turvy morning with little emergencies and much drama, and in between making calls and making plans, we are drinking far too much coffee . . . but things shall return back to schedule in a bit, for there are still a few beautiful things to come before the day is through, including this week's {take me away} and, perhaps, even, the winner of last week's give-away, and so, for now, à bientôt / see you soon . . .

— roséline xo


[image : a glamorous little side project]

{monday, monday & a beautiful new week}

. . . and a part of the weekend was spent in the countryside, back gardens and magnolia blossoms, and it was so very lovely to drive out of the busy-ness of the city for a while; and the week has begun in spring sunlight, cups of coffee and conversations before breakfast, and although so much has been done in the past weeks, there is still much to, and so, it's for now, more coffee and a beautiful new week . . .

happy monday! hope you had a stunning spring weekend, and that your week is off to a perfect start,
— roséline xo

[a few lovely links below] x

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{décor inspiration : spring brights & bits of light}

. . . despite an affinity to white and soft-hued rooms, [dusky pinks and smokey lavenders], every year, around this time, always seem to fall head over heels for more vibrant colours, wild rose and daffodil, and now, this astonishingly lovely shade of turquoise, that looks as if has been flung from far-off and tropical seas, especially when perfectly paired with a spring bouquet, bits of coral, and warm floods of light . . .



[image: photography by chris warnes, styling by sarah ellison for real living au via a dustjacket attic]

{take me away № 25 | the enchanting world of lace}

"An ancient legend claims that the origins of lace lie in the so-called “trina delle sirene” – mermaid’s lace – an aquatic plant given by a sailor to a beautiful Venetian girl. She was so struck by its beauty that she wished to recreate it, thus giving rise to the art of lace-making."



Though the art of creating fine lace has nearly vanished, we may still hold onto those who treasure their craft, and continue to help create and shape an incredible and beautiful part of history. Lace can be found in many different forms, whether a sweet vintage handkerchief, a stunning gown from the runway, beautiful bed linens that have been passed down for generations, lacy undergarments, or a custom wedding gown, each stitch drawn in love.



And so, today we celebrate a history delicately woven of lace, as seen so beautifully in tales, memories, signs of love and life, embedded lovingly into each and every thread; we will discover secrets of lace making, intriguing moments in history, and close with a few lovely places around the world to find the perfect lace pieces . . .

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{hello | late-week musings & the things we always come back to}

. . . there are things we always come back to, one of which was intimated last week, and on this [romantically] overcast thursday, in a dusky café with a stack of [more] thank you cards to write, have been drawn, again and again, to this breezy, springtime-perfect room -- first published here, [like betsey johnson's pink manhattan apartment], in 2007, with the actual image, astonishingly, dating back to 2001, and yet, the clamshell-ruffle appliqué tablecloth, draped along the hardwood and shaped from a continuous two-hundred-yard-long strip of damask, is as breathtaking today, as it was so long ago . . .

{p.s.} the first great love story still to come x


[image: scan, from martha stewart living, photography by james merrell]

{spring things | tabletop inspiration : satin-wrapped bouquets}

. . . and while on the topic of tabletops and bouquets, very much like the thought of arranging little bouquets, whether fragrant white freesias or lilac-coloured roses or palest yellow tulips, at each place setting at springtime soirées, bouquets wrapped in lengths of satin ribbon and pinned with pretty little rhinestones or iridescent mother-of-pearl . . .

{p.s.} a few things

* also new today : easter inspiration
* the last day: for the olivia von halle silk pyjama set give-away
* still to come : this week's {take me away}


[image: scan, from a tear from an old martha stewart wedding planner]

{décor inspiration | at home with : betsey johnson, new york}

. . . lately have been thinking about the things we always come back to—the crashing waves of the ocean, a favourite fragrance or countryside road, a novel or restaurant; for some, there are the same colours, designers, or interiors . . .



. . . and for me, it is this manhattan apartment, belonging to fashion designer betsey johnson—a maximalist heaven of overflowing bouquets of roses and utterly breathtaking pink walls, beautiful chandeliers and yards upon yards of antique lace . . .

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{favourite five : an interview with florist, nicolette camille}

"flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

With the promise of spring just around the corner, can not help but daydream of the perfect beauty of blossoming rose gardens and picnics in wildflower fields, afternoon teas on the terrace, overflowing with wisteria and nearly every corner of the house filled with favourite blooms . . .

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{wishing you a wildly romantic valentine's day}

. . . and having been forever in love with love, and forever ever in love, it's no wonder that valentine's day is very nearly a national holiday around here, and perhaps the very best thing about it falling on a tuesday, is the chance to celebrate again, for there are dinner reservations also for the weekend, and for tonight, there will be champagne and other perfectly wonderful things, and however you celebrate, or not at all, wishing you so much love—the kind that overflows on everything and fills the air . . .

happy, happy valentine's day! hope it's sweet & sexy and positively filled with beautiful things, —roséline xo

{p.s.} and to p : ♥ & this

[& as always, more lovely things below] x

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{décor inspiration : dusky lavender and bits of gold}

. . . it always seems, about this time of year, am ready to throw open the windows to the bright sunlight, in wild anticipation for springtime, and so, it is not difficult to imagine one being hopelessly drawn this perfectly romantic home, with its dusky lavender walls and pooling drapes of the same hue, its tufted linen chairs and carved settees, scalloped and gilded and mirrored accents, its florals and lucite may bring on bouts of spring fever at any moment . . .

[more glimpses below] x

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{style inspiration | on the vanity & in the makeup kit : a few favourites}

. . . one of the fondest memories of growing up was my mother's movie-star dressing rooms -- enormous and luxurious, and with those pretty white lights that trail all the way around the large looking glass above the vanity, upon which was always a beautiful scattering of perfume bottles and golden hairpins, and every kind of beauty product one could possibly imagine -- it was a most magical place for a little girl, and needless to say, spent many, many hours utterly lost in spritzes of heady perfume, dustings of silvery eyeshadows and dashes of lipstick, and watching my mother get ready for dinner parties and evening soirées . . .



. . . and as there have been so many requests, thought it might be lovely, [with a little winter light & p's stunning photography], to share a glimpse of a few favourite things on the vanity and of the moment . . .

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{take me away № 08 | holiday etiquette}

{hosting & being a house guest }

At many points throughout the year, we may welcome guests to stay in our homes as well as be guests in others’ homes, but particularly so with the holidays just around the corner.



And whether you will be living with friends or family during such time, it is always lovely to be both a generous and welcoming host, as well as a considerate guest.



For this week's {take me away}, we shall explore different tips and ideas on how to be gracious in both circumstances . . .

[click below to read sarah's thoughtful tips for being a welcoming hostess, as well as a gracious guest this holiday season] x

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{tabletop inspiration : sunrise & cerulean}

. . . when it comes to table settings, nearly always prefer a light and ethereal colour palette -- white and gold and perhaps, only on occasion, a dash of hollywood cerise, but as the days drift steadily toward chillier temperatures, have been falling for deeper and richer hues -- cobalt & hermès, sunrise & cerulean -- intermingled, of course, with elegantly patterned table linens and astonishingly lovely chandeliers dripping in glittering crystals and bits of gold . . .





{images: eddie ross for lonny via simply smitten}

{how to : iphone photography & favourite apps}

. . . it has been said that the best camera is the one you have with you, and with all the running around these days, and always so many lovely things to capture while traipsing about, often the only camera on hand is my iphone, which have come to rely on more and more for so many things, but especially the camera; and since joining instagram some time ago, have been having the loveliest time sharing little glimpses here and there, of everyday life, and have been asked, time and again, about the photographs in my stream -- how to split images into frames, how to get that dreamy, romantic sparkle, and so on -- and so, thought it might be fun to share a few favourite apps along the way . . .

{p.s.} for those not using iphones & apps, you can view the photographs online with: instagrid // heroku // followgram


lyon in the rain // instagram with toaster filter





"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever . . . it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."

~ Aaron Siskind

above, instagram filters : early bird & toaster


T W E L V E F A V O U R I T E A P P S

. . . normally only use two or three apps other than instagram, but p prefers to play around with a broader range, and so, a few of our favourites:

1. accu camera : to steady shots
2. shake it : for polaroid-like effects
3. ps express : for cropping & rotating images
4. snapspeed : a powerful app for selective photo edits & filters
5. instagram : for filters & sharing
6. pro hdr : for combining two of the same images to extend the dynamic range
7. picfx : for filters & favourite {this is glamorous} bokeh effects
8. lens flare : for a large collection of amazing lens flare effects
9. pic frame : to split images into separate frames & create collages
10. toy slr : for creating focus & blur
11. picture show : fun exposures & mirror filters
12. dramatic black & white : for converting images to black & white and adding sharpness

chandelier // apps used: instagram with toaster filter, picframe & picfx




a few favourite things // intsagram with toaster filter


light effects of image on the right, created with picfx


door in geneva // apps used: instagram, picframe & picfx




the window seat of an airplane // instagram with early bird filter, no light effects, only the magical reflection of the sun's golden rays . . .
morning latte // apps used: instagram, picframe & picfx



self-portrait: vintage necklace & french dots //instagram with toaster filter



iOS 5 : new & updated features

1. press the up volume button to take a photo
2. access the camera from the lock screen by double tapping the home screen and touching the camera icon
3. when taking a picture, touch on the screen where you want the exposure and focus to be measured from
4. turn on the grid from the options tab, which can help with composition and to keep your image straight
5. use two fingers to pinch the screen to access the zoom feature

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. . . and may have missed a few -- would love to know the favourite apps you're currently using?

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{images: all iphone photography by roséline on instagram}